Postage printing and metering



Jan. 4, 1938. E. Pl-:RssoN POSTAGE PRINTING AND METERING M ACHINE FiledJan. 23, 193e y 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @n EN um l l Snnenk-n:

.Efnnlf Perm/on f AGttolrneg Jan. 4, v1938. E. PERssoN l POSTAGEPRINTING AND METERING MACHINEA Filed Jan. 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2hwentor nA/i' Harada/n Jan. 4, 193s. E, PERSSO 2,104,668

POSTAGE PRINTING AND METERING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1956 3Sheena-Sheet: 5

nventor Enna/ fund/01a l 'M4 Clttarneg Cul Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2.104.668 y Posner: mamme AND Mamme momma ErnstPersson', Brooklyn. N. Y., asslgnor to The International Postal SupplyCompany. Brooklyn. N. Y., a corporation o! New York Application January23, 1'936, Serial No. 60,493

8 Claims.

proved means for operating the machine .as a

multi-denomination postage printer. The invention further includesimprovements in the coupling between the motor and the printing die,

a trip for actuating the clutch, and a parcel post attachment whichpermits the impression of postage indicia on a tape, the lattermechanism being so arranged on the machine as to permit its use forparcel post postage or in a raised position which will not interferewith the normal use of the machine as a printer for envelopes and@similar mailing matter.

The invention first comprises a shiftable gear arrangement ^which,depending on the amount for which the die is set, actuates the meterthrough .worm gears, Athe shiftable gears being readily assembled ordisassembled to permit changing gears in accordance with the variousdenominations found desirable. The shiftable mechanism Gil is made up ofanumber of separate worm gears easily removable for individualreplacement, thus avoiding the necessity for making an entirely newmulti-denominational unit.

' The invention next includes a clutch mechanism which automaticallystops the .printing die after a single revolution, the driving motorbeing constantly rotatable.

A further feature of the invention is an attachment which is designed toenable the operator to print postage in'dicia on paper tape forattachment to parcel post packages, this attachment being readilymovable into or out of position with respect to the die so that othermailing matter may be run through the machine without interference fromthe attachment.

Other features'of the invention and its operation will be apparent' whenthe following descrip'- tion is considered in connection with pendeddrawings in which:-

Fig. l is a front view of the assembled machine with. the meterfremoved;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the machine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, themeter being shown incooperating relation with the driving mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the clutch interposed between the motorand the'printing and metering mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a partial section ofthe clutch (cl. 1to1-23s) the apactuator;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the'coupling between the motor and the clutch;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of parts of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the trip mechanism Fig. 9 is a sectiontaken on line 9-3 of Fig. 5; l Fig. 10 is a section taken 'on linelil-I0 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged front view of the trip mechanism; and Fig. 12 isa fragmentary perspective view of the printing mechanism.

In the drawings, the machine comprises a base 20 having 'anupwardlyextending gear housing 2 l, preferably cast with the base andhaving anges 22'forming a partial support for the meter 23. The meterhousing 24 yhas formed therewithl a substantially cylindrical extension25 providing a housing for the printing die 2,6.'

` Mounted on base 20 and lying in a plane below the vprinting die is afeed table 21 provided with a moistening disc 28 and a water well 29,whereby, as the mail matter chine, it is automatically sealed inaddition to having postage indicia printed thereon.

An opening 3| permits inking roll 32 to be pressed against the die, asthe latter rotates, and to 'ink the surface thereof before the indiciaare printed on the mail matter. Ink roll 32 is pivoted on a slotted arm33 which may be adis fed through the majusted with respect to the die bymeans of a bolt andthumb nut 34 passing through drame |01.

The preferred means for driving the machine comprises motor 36 having onits shaft a coupling 31 cooperating with pins 38v on disc 39 to rotatethe latter. Disc 39 is con \ected to shaft 40 by means of an overloadclut r4l which releases the connection between the shaft and the discunder abnormal conditions. Secured to shaft 40 is a cone 42' adapted tobe engaged by cone housing 43 when the trip mechanism, to be describedhereinafter, is actuated. Normally the `housing is spaced from the cone.

Formed integral with housing 43 is a cylindri cal enlargement 44 havinginterior threads 45. Housing 43 is freely rotatable on sleeve 46. thelatter having a threaded enlargement 41'`v cooperating with the interiorthreads 45 on housing 43 and an end flange 48 to which are secured bevelgear 49 and disc 5I. As will be rseen in Fig. 5, housing 43 is connectedto flange 48 b y.

a spring 52 normally to rotate the housing with respect to the ange, thelatter being stationary axially with respect to shaft 40. When housing43- is under the influence of spring 52, it moves axially'toward cone42, due to the threaded cooperation between housing 43 and enlargement44. Mounted on housing 43 is a stop roller 54 adapted normally to beengaged by a.rmovable abutment or roller 55 on stop lever 58. The stoplever is actuated by a control lever 51 having a tripping cam 58thereon. Upon actuation of lever 51 by mechanism to be described later,spring 52 urges housing 43 in a direction which moves the housing towardthe cone. Thus, when cone 42 engages housing 48, the entire unit comgear49 meshes with a second bevel gear 88 on' Shaft i4.

prising housing 48, sleeve 49, and gear 49, rotates with the motorshaft. For a single revolution of the mechanism, the control lever israised and immediately released. The unit continues to rotate until therollers 54 and 55 again meet, whereupon'- the force of spring 52 isovercome and the housing moveda allyaway from the cone. A shoulder o'gages stop piece 62 on end ange 48.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that bevel The latter is journaledin the rear wall Vof gear housing 2| and is connected by gearing (notshown) to a shaft 1and coupling 55 journaled in the front wall of thegear-housing. Adapted to be coupled to shaft'ti is a shaft 88 in themeter housing. Keyed to shaft 55 are a plurality ofworm gears 51assembled for movement asa unit axially of the shaft, but rotatabletherewith. -Each of these gears is provided with a number of teethcorresponding to a particular denomination, one gear having but lonetooth, the next two teeth, and the others a larger number ofteeth. Theprinting die 26 is"sup` and descending wheels 15, 18, respectively.

Suitable locking mechanism is provided to pre.- vent unauthorized use ofthe meter after a predetermined amount of postage is used. Thismechanism includes a key bar similar tothat shown in the patent toMitchell and Zahn, No. 1,659,213, dated `February 14, 1928, designed tocooperate with notches in the counting wheels. When the notches are inalignment, corresponding with a combination ofthe positions of thewheels indicating substantial exhaustion of postage, the bar falls intothe notches and locks themagainst further rotatim.

The'ends of the bar are held in levers 11 at each side of the countingmechanism, these levers being pivoted at 18 and being` normally urged tolocking position by spring 19. 'Die carrier 88 is provided with a iiange8| having a notch 82 therein. Designed to enter this notch at the propertimeis a linger 88 connected to one of the levers 11 by means of a link84. The

notch is so positioned on the nane that the mechanism is locked only ata time when the printing die is-concealed within housing-25.

Geared to gear- 12 is a locking disc. 85 having ten teeth on itsperiphery. Connected to-flnser 88 soastomovetherewithisalockbar 88having a finger 81 adapted to enterone of the notches in the lockingdisc when n nge'r 88 enters notch. 82. 'A pawl 88, normally held inengagement with .disc- 85J?!i ,spring 88, permits vrotation of theY discin one directiom butprevents reversal of the disc and, consequently theother Seats ml-f ing part of the counting mechanism.

he housing then en- The trip mechanism for actuating the printing die isshown in Fig. 11. Pivoted to the base of the machine is a carrying arm9| to which is pivoted a trip tongue 92. Spring 93 normally holds thearm in the position shown and spring 94 tends to maintain the tongue inraised position, that is, projecting through and above the feed table21, as shown, to be engaged by mail matter fed to the printing die.'I'he tongue carries pins 95`and 91 adapted to engage, re

' tongue 92 lis engaged byV a piece of mail, the

bell crank is rocked and depresses the forward end of control lever 51.of the bell crank permits it to slide past, pin |0'I which movesinwardly' and then is returned to normal position by spring |02. Bellcrank 98 is returned to its normal position by spring 95. Cam 99depresses tongue 92 to permitthe mail topass thereover and the tongue isthen re- Continued movement turned to its normal position. If desired,the

tongue may be held in inoperative position by a holdingilnger |04 whichis raised by turning knob |05 and in its raised position abuts pin 91 todepress the tongue. The control lever is provided with a finger'pieoe|08 to permit operation ofthe machine by hand when so desired.

Attached to the machine by'any suitable means is a mounting frame |01 onwhich are mounted a parcel post attachment and separator unit. Pivotallymounted on the frame is a bell crank lever |08 to which is secured atape guide plate |09 and a spring mounting plate Pivoted to the lowerend of the!- guide plate is a second guide plate ||2 which is held inthe relation shown in the drawings by-any suitable yielding springmeans. Lever 08 has formed therewith a boss ||8 on the end of which is aflange ||4 having two notches ||5, H5, spaced substantially 90 apart.These notches cooperate with a slidable spring pressed pin ||1 mountedon the frame and which holds the lever and tape guides either inelevated position, as shown, when ordinary mail matter is being runthrough the machine, or in a lowered position which Ybrings the lower.guide directly under theprinting mechanism. In the latter position, theprinter impresses postage indicia directly on the tape which is thensevered and ailixed to packages too bulky to pass through the machine.'A stud ||8 is secured on the frame to accommodateI a roll of gummedtape, as indicated at |9, the tape passing into .the guides and beingtensioned by spring |2| thereon. Also mounted on frame |81 is aseparatorunit.

The separator comprises a rubber rollerl .|22 which is held againstrotation on stud |28-'but which may be turned for adjustment tocompensate for wear. V'Ihe roller and stud are carried on an arm -|24`pivotedon a stud |25 on the frame and its position adjusted by meansof arm |28. lAlso :pivotea en stud ,nl is a feed belt channel |21 inend'of which is keyed a bevel gear |84 adapted to mesh with bevel gear|85.on 'shaft 48. Gear |85 is driven by a friction piece |96 secured toshaft 40. Gear |34 is movable axially on shaft |33 and may be throwninto or out of mesh with gear |35 by means of a shift fork |31. Shiftrod |39 is attached to the shift fork and extends through the front ofthe base, having a knob |4| on its forward end to permit shifting 4ofthe gear. To

prevent reversal of shaft 40 and to position it' accurately forsubsequent operations after the.

shaft has come to rest, suitable ratchet means, indicated at k |40 inFig. 10, are employed.

Envelope sealing means are provided on the machine andinclude amoistening disc 28 revolving in a water well 29. Disc 28 is rotated bymeans of a friction wheel |42, bearing against a universal joints |50,|50' and is driven thereby.

The impression roller thus rotates in synchronlsm with the printingmechanism.

The machine is so assembled that it seals and imprints postage rapidly,its parts are sealed against fraudulent use, and it is compact "so as tooccupy little space.

Although certain parts and combinations have been described in detail,it is to be understood that various changes may be made withoutmodifying the operation of the machine. It is, therefore, intended thatthe claims be of such scope that they include such modifications.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Ina combined postage printing andv registering machine, rotatableprinting means, driving means therefor including a shaft, a clutchcomprising a pair of axially aligned clutch eley ments on said shaft,one of said elements being connected to said printing means and theother element being connected to said shaft, said 'clutch being normallydisengaged, and trip means for actuating said clutch.

2. In a combined postage printing and registering machine, rotatableprinting means, driving means therefor including a shaft, clutchelements axially 'aligned on said shaft, one of said elements beingconnected to said printing means andthe other element being connected tosaid shaft, stop means on one of said clutch ele- A ments, a tripmemberengaging said stop means -normally to hold said clutch elements inspaced relation, other means normally urging said clutch elements inactuating stop mem d trip element to disengage said r and therebyoperate said clutch.

3. In a combined postage printing and registering machine, rotatableprinting means, driving means therefor, clutch elements interposedbetween said printing means and said driving means, stop means on oneVof said clutch elements. a trip member engaging said stop meansnormally to disengage said clutch elements, a drive shaft, a sleeveloosely mounted on said shaft, one of said clutch elements being securedto said shaftand the other element being loose operable relation, andmeans for on said sleeve, a gear on said sleeve connected to saidprinting means, said sleeve and said loose element having threadedengagement,

spring means connecting said sleeve and said.

loose element to rotate said loose element with respect to said sleeve,thereby to move the clutch elements into engaging relation, and meansfor actuating said trip element to operate said clutch.

4. 'In a combined postage printing and registering machine, rotatableprinting means, driving means therefor including a shaft, clutchelements axially aligned on said shaft. one, of said elements beingconnected to said printing means and the other element being connectedto said shaft, said clutch elements being normally disengaged, stopmeans on one of said elements, a trip member in the path of mail matterpassing to the printing means and rockable thereby, a movable abutmentnormally engaging said stop means to disengage said clutch elements,means actuated by said trip member for moving said abutment out ofengagement with the stop memvber,.and means for thereafter moving one ofsaid elementsaxially to permit engagement of said clutch elements.

5. In a combined postagel printing and registering machine as claimed inclaim 4, a rockable vtongue on said trip member. and cam means formoving the tongue out of the path of the mail tter after the mail matterrocks the trip mem- 6. In a'combined postage printingand registeringmachine as claimed in claim 4, a control lever for moving said abutment,and a movable member on thecontrol lever adapted to be engaged by thetrip member during a portion of the movement of the trip member andthereafter movable out ofengagement with the trip member. v

7. In a combined postage printing and registering machine, rotatableprinting means, a base therefor, a frame mounted on said base, tapecarrying means on said frame, a movable tape guiding member comprisingarpair of plates, one of said plates being pivotally and yieldablysecured to the other of said plates, and means adapted in one positionto hold said plates in spaced relation to the printing means and inanother position to hold oneoi' said plates in contiguous relation to'the' printing means, whereby the tape therefor, aframe `mounted on saidbase, tapecarrying meanso'n said frame, anvarm pivoted on said frame, atape guiding member carried .by said arm and comprising a pur of plates,one

' printed.

ERNST PERssoN.

